Farindian Summer (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 4)

by Loren K. Jones

  “Now what?” Stavin asked as he looked back and forth between Gavlin and Dahvin.

  “Now that overweening fool faces charges for insubordination,” Gavlin replied calmly. “I warned him.”

  “What about the people and their titles?” Stavin asked. “We need a magistrate up here now, not in a moon or three.”

  Dahvin said, “Promote one of the sheriffs.”

  “I can’t.”

  Gavlin looked at Stavin silently for a moment. “Yes, Prince Stavin, you can. Full Crown authority, remember? Those two are both fully conversant with Evandian Law, probably more so than Kelval Zel’Jassan.”

  Stavin took a deep breath and held it for a moment before sighing mightily. “When they come back. Hand me that piece of parchment. I’ll write out the commission now and just fill in the name when we decide which of them to promote.”

  It was nearly a span later that the two sheriffs returned. “We turned him over to your guardsmen, Prince Stavin. They’re not impressed by his exalted birth or threats of retribution.”

  Stavin nodded and said, “Very well. Now, which of you wants to be the magistrate?”

  Both sheriffs looked startled, and then looked at each other. “You’re senior, Oscan,” Wiltan pointed out.

  “But you’re higher ranking,” Oscan replied.

  “Flip a crown,” Karvik muttered. Both sheriffs immediately locked eyes on him. “It’s just an idea.”

  The two men shared a look, then Oscan pulled a silver crown from his pouch. “Call it,” he said as he flipped the coin into the air.

  “King,” Wiltan replied. The coin landed on the tent floor and everyone looked. It was crown side up. “You win, Magistrate Zel’Lastel.”

  “If you say so,” he replied, then looked at Prince Stavin. “And if you say so, Prince Stavin.”

  Stavin was already writing the name on the commission. “Fair enough. Magistrate Zel’Lastel, you heard my instructions. Return any fees that greedy fool collected, then issue titles to everyone who holds any property.”

  “As you wish, Prince Stavin,” Magistrate Zel’Lastel replied, “but there may be some questions back in Twin Bridges.”

  Stavin nodded. “I’ll answer any questions King Kalin or Minister Zel’Vorlas have about this incident when we get home. If there’s a problem, I’ll deal with it.”

  The magistrate and sheriff both bowed. Oscan said, “As you wish, Prince Stavin.”

  Gavlin looked him in the eye. “You have a long way to go. I suggest you leave in the morning.”

  “With all due respect, Colonel, we have work to do here first. We have titles and deeds to issue, as well as about thirty crowns to return.” He smiled at Stavin and bowed, as did the sheriff, then they both left the tent.

  “I get the impression that there was no love lost between them and Zel’Jassan,” Dahvin said as he looked at his brother.

  “Not a bit,” Gavlin agreed.

  Chapter 52

  THE PACIFICATION FORCE MOVED ON IN the morning, leaving a much-relieved populace behind them. It took nine days to reach the old border, and Stavin made a decision there.

  “Gav, I’m releasing you to disperse your men back to their home commands. I’ll take the Royal Guards and go on to Twin Bridges.”

  “Very well, Prince Stavin,” Gavlin replied, “and I’ll have my reports ready for you to take with you.”

  They parted at first light the next day, amid grumbles about how early it was. “We’ve only got about eight days in the saddle to get home,” Stavin said as he listened to the good-natured bitching.

  Barvil looked at him sideways. “Home, Stavin?”

  Stavin nodded. “Home for me, at least. I’m not returning to Kel’Kavin this season. Maybe never again.”

  Barvil nodded. “We thought that might be the case,” he said as Karvik joined him.

  Karvik said, “Your family is down here now.”

  “And part of it will always be in Kavinston,” Stavin acknowledged, “but Sora and Aric are staying in Twin Bridges with us. I told mom and dad as well as Aric’s family when we were home. There are others who are also staying. About ten of them.”

  Barvil nodded. “I knew about them before we left Kavinston. They all approached the Council before we left. Aric’s skill and rank are sufficient. There won’t be any question about his fitness.”

  The ride was a quiet one, but it felt good. After the entire summer plodding along at the speed of the infantry, they were finally riding at a reasonable speed. They even pushed their horses to a gallop once to reach a town for the night.

  Twin Bridges finally came into view, and for Stavin and the Royal Guardsmen, it was a beautiful sight. Home.

  Dahvin led them straight to the palace, and into the Royal Stables. “Everyone report to quarters. We’ll muster out in the morning. Late in the morning,” he added, drawing laughter from his men.

  Stavin took his weapons and walked toward his suite with a deep feeling of anticipation. It was going to be so good to see his family again. When he arrived in the Prince’s Suite, he received a surprise.

  “Daddy!” Karlin squealed, and ran toward him. Stavin dropped his Dragon’s Tongue in order to pick up his son, and they spent a moment just cuddling.

  “Oh, you’ve grown so much, Karli,” he said as he nuzzled Karlin’s hair.

  “Welcome home, Stavi,” Shari said, drawing his attention. She was sitting on the sofa with Sora and Glora, feeding the babies.

  Stavin walked over to her still carrying Karlin and knelt. “How are you, darling?” he asked, then brushed the hair on his daughters’ heads.

  “Fine, now that you’re here.”

  “Where is Dahvin?” Glora asked.

  “Headed toward your suite, I suppose,” Stavin answered without looking at her.

  “Ladies,” Glora said as she stood, “I shall see you tomorrow. Maybe.” Her tone had Sora and Shari chuckling.

  “We understand that you’ve had an eventful summer, Stavin,” Sora said, then gasped when he turned toward her. “Stavi, what happened to your eyes? And your face?”

  “Your face?” Shari asked.

  “It’s hard to explain,” Stavin mumbled.

  “Take your time and use small words,” Sora commanded.

  “I need a bath, and some more comfortable—clean—clothes first, Sora. It’s going to be a long story.”

  Shari was sitting perfectly still. “Go bathe and change. We should be finished feeding the girls by the time you’re ready.”

  Stavin smiled and leaned over his daughters to kiss her. “Yes, Shari.” Then he backed away and went to the bathing room. Avrin was right behind him with a stubborn expression on his face. And clean clothes in his hands.

  As soon as Stavin was gone, Shari turned to Sora. “Details.”

  “His eyes are bright gold, like his armor, and there’s a sickle-shaped patch of gold on his cheek. It’s as shiny as a new crown.”

  Stavin didn’t waste any time bathing. He was back out with his family in less than a span, sitting between Shari and Sora and holding the twins. “It’s the magic.” He told them everything. His feelings when he held the sword. His fear of what it was doing and had done to him. And his determination to never touch it again.

  Shari was leaning her head against his shoulder by the time he was finished. “Oh, Stavi, that’s horrible.” Sora was hugging him from the other side, giving her silent support to her baby brother.

  “I wish I’d never taken the damn thing in the first place. If I had just given it back right away, I—” He broke down and cried, leaning on Shari’s side and letting his tears fall on her dress. “I’ll never forgive myself for Amarna’s death. Never.”

  Shari stroked Stavin’s hair as he cried. “It’s not your fault, Stavin. You couldn’t have known what would happen. You can’t keep torturing yourself about it.”

  “I know it wasn’t,” Stavin said as he tried to get control of himself, “but it was. If I hadn’t been so greedy for tha
t power, it never would have happened.”

  Sora reached out and caressed her little brother’s hair like she used to do when he was little. “It’s over now, Stavi. The sword is in Kel’Kavin and you’re here.”

  “And I’m staying here,” Stavin said as he turned to look at Sora.

  “For good?” Sora asked.

  “Yes.”

  Shari smiled and said, “Good. I couldn’t take another winter cooped up in the Royal Suite. At least Kalin and Marina let me be useful here.”

  Stavin smiled and cupped her hand against his cheek, then kissed her palm. “I already told Barvil and Karvik that we’re not going back. I told Mom and Dad, as well as your mom and dad and Aric’s family, that we’re all staying here. Charvil wasn’t thrilled, but Nahrana just said she’ll be coming down for a visit in the summer.”

  “What about the Academy?” Shari asked, and Stavin had to chuckle. “What?”

  “Barvil is ahead by three now. Your dad is going to have the summer free.”

  Shari chuckled. “That’s going to make him so mad.”

  “Maybe. But it’s our winter that we need to consider.”

  Shari shrugged. “We have council for nine of ten days. It doesn’t leave much time for anything else.”

  Stavin kissed her palm again. “Do we have time for something else right now?” he asked in a husky tone, and Shari and Sora both laughed.

  Shari leaned forward and kissed him. “We have time.”

  *

  Kalin and Marina arrived some time later, when Stavin and Shari were once again in their sitting room. “Barvil told us most of what happened, Stavin. We had no idea that the Dragon Gifts could do that.” He paused and looked into Stavin’s eyes. “Remarkable.”

  Marina was right beside her father and shook her head slowly. “It’s a remarkable change. Has it affected your vision at all?”

  “No,” Stavin replied with a shake of his head. “Other than the color, and the fact that I still feel like bulling through any opposition, there don’t seem to be any major changes.”

  Kalin was shaking his head now. “Karvik said you think the dragon was a female.”

  “You didn’t tell us that,” Shari interrupted.

  Stavin chuckled. “I had other things on my mind. But yes, I’m almost certain the dragon above Kel’Kavin is a female. When I stopped resisting the power and really let go,” he paused and raised his hands helplessly, “I don’t know. But that was the impression I got.”

  Kalin nodded. “You’re not to ever take up that sword again, Stavin. I won’t risk losing you.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me,” Stavin replied.

  Kalin nodded. “We’ll see. You seem a little more independent than that. As for the Andarian incidents, I’ve exchanged several messages with Jallat about the border incursion. He’s embarrassed by his general’s actions.”

  “Jeff told me,” Stavin said, and saw the startled look on Kalin’s face. “You should have received a message about my returning the general and his officers to Prince Jeffan. He told me then that the general had been dismissed. If he wasn’t Jeff’s father-in-law, he would have been executed. As it is, he’ll be disgraced for the rest of his life.”

  “Yes, I got that message, but you didn’t say you and Prince Jeffan had gotten that close.”

  Stavin smiled and shrugged. “He wants to be friends. I think part of it was seeing what happened when the sword cut me, but part of it seemed to be a real desire to not be my enemy.”

  “It wouldn’t hurt to be friends with him.” Kalin paused and took a deep breath, as if pondering what he was about to say. “Now that Farindia is taken care of, what are your plans? Are you going back to Kavinston and your archive?”

  Stavin smiled sadly and shook his head. “No. Father, I am home to stay.”

  A slow, delighted smile crossed Kalin’s face. “Father?”

  Stavin nodded. “You adopted me.”

  “By home to stay,” Marina said, “I assume you’re not returning to Kavinston for the winter.”

  “Possibly never again, Marina. Except for a visit once in a while.” He put his arm around Shari and looked up into Kalin’s face. “You told me that my home was here now, and now it is.” He smiled up at Shari’s face and rubbed his cheek against her arm. “Now that Shari and the kids are here, this is really home.”

  *

  Stavin’s decision had far reaching consequences in the palace. Among them was near panic among the Lord Ministers. They had hoped, and even prayed on occasion, that Stavin and Sharindis would go home and leave them in peace. The announcement that they were staying was met with dismay.

  Minister of Culture Zel’Vincent moaned, “This can’t be happening.”

  “It is happening, Naran,” Lord Zel’Nielson said with a resigned sigh. “My sources tell me that he’s given orders for his personal goods to be shipped to the palace next summer.”

  “Well, at least the rest of those barbarians are going,” Minister of State Zel’Andrus said in a satisfied tone.

  Minster of Foreign Affairs Zel’Ordan shook his head. “Not all of them. His sister and her husband are staying, as are ten of the men he brought with him. It seems that the king’s invitation is being taken up by just a few of them. Not as many as we feared, but enough to be a disruption.”

  “Kalin must be behind it,” Minister of Roads Zel’Cerran hissed. “Both of them have stated repeatedly that they want to return to their precious Archive.”

  “That is undoubtedly one of their reasons for staying here. Our Archive is far more extensive than that of a backwoods settlement,” Lord Zel’Ordan replied.

  “A lot of good it will do them,” Lord Zel’Nielson chuckled. “They’ll be in Council with us most of the time.”

  “Must you remind me?” Lord Zel’Vincent groused.

  Chapter 53

  STAVIN AND SHARI ATTENDED COUNCIL TOGETHER two days later. During that time Stavin had been working on a report for the Council on the state of affairs in the new territories. He still wanted to call it Farindia, and had to spend several grumbling spans scraping the wrong word from the parchment. Once the Council was called to order, Stavin stood.

  “My noble Lord Councilors, and Lady Councilors as well,” he added, grinning at Firenza, “I would like to present my report on the annexation of the former Farindian territories.” At King Kalin’s nod, he began.

  The report continued for span after span, through the mid day meal and halfway to evening. “In conclusion,” he finally said, “our new territory is in need of a great deal of help as far as roads and bridges are concerned. Waterways are in better shape, but still need a thorough survey. The people are, in general, willing to accept the annexation. There are some diehard holdouts, but not many. Lord Colonel Zel’Fordal’s tactics of minimal confrontation are to be commended. Absorbing, rather than conquering this region, minimized the impact and generation of bad feelings. The announcement that we were not sending Chosen lords in to take over, but raising the local leaders to Chosen status helped even more.”

  “And your part, Prince Stavin?” Minister of State Zel’Andrus asked.

  Stavin looked at the minister and saw the discomfort the lord’s posture when his golden eyes fell on him. “You mean my killing everyone in my path when I held the Sword of Zel’Hallan?” he asked with his head tilted to the side. “I don’t think I did any irreparable damage as far as the common people are concerned.” He sighed and shook his head. “The Chosen along the Kavadian border might be a different story, but in the case of the Zel’Esten family at least, we are not resented too terribly much. Keeping the seven families in place is helping to keep them happy.”

  Minister of Culture Zel’Vincent had restrained himself through the entire report, but now he just had to ask, “Now that you’ve accomplished your goal of annexing Farindia, why aren’t you going home?”

  Stavin fixed his eyes on the old minister and felt the rage boiling just below the surface of his th
oughts. “I am home, Lord Naran,” Stavin said in a soft voice that still rang through the chamber.

  Stavin addressing the Minister of Culture by his name was a shock to all of the ministers. Minister of Education Zel’Nielson glared at Stavin before saying, “It is inappropriate for you to address the Minister of Culture in that manner, Prince Stavin.”

  Stavin focused on him immediately. “In what manner, Lord Carstas?”

  The ministers were taken aback by Stavin’s action. “Why, by his given name, of course,” Lord Zel’Nielson said. “And now you address me in the same fashion.” He turned to King Kalin, but was met by a stony expression.

  “My son is a member of the royal family, Carstas,” King Kalin said in a firm tone. “I suggest you get used to the idea that he, and his wife, are above you in all things.” Carstas Zel’Nielson closed his mouth with an audible click and sat heavily in his chair as the king continued to glare around the room. “All of you, get used to it.”

  Stavin gave King Kalin a half-bow before turning back to the Minister of Education. “The reason we are not returning to Kavinston is that Twin Bridges is truly our home now. While we were not born here, or even in Evandia, our home is here with our family.” He smiled at Kalin and Marina, then looked around the table. “Something has been bothering me since I got here this morning. Who is missing?”

  “We haven’t appointed a Minister of Trade yet, Stavin,” King Kalin replied, drawing Stavin’s attention. “I had someone special in mind.”

  Stavin bowed. “Indeed, Your Majesty. If I may ask, who is it?”

  King Kalin smiled. “Someone with an interest in trade, and experience that no other Minister of Trade has ever had. A man with a relationship with the Traders’ Guild, and with Traders in other kingdoms as well. Someone who knows the ins and outs of trade intimately.”

  Stavin was getting impatient. “Who, Your Majesty?”

  “You.”

  Stavin’s legs gave out and he fell into his chair. He whispered, “Me?”

  King Kalin’s grin was damn near evil as he looked at his adopted son. “You, Master Trader Stavin of the Evandian House of Kel’Aniston, and the Aravadian House of Kel’Aniston as well.” He glanced around the table and saw the shock on the other minister’s faces before turning back to Stavin. “The Traders’ Guild manipulated Evindal for their own ends, and he manipulated Trade to suit them. I think I can count on you to be much less pliable.”